Vande Bharat halts in Kerala

25-Dec-2025

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A major accident was narrowly avoided on the night of Dec 23 after a Vande Bharat Express train spotted an autorickshaw lying on the railway track near Akathumuri Halt station in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district.

The train, running from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, was approaching Akathumuri Halt in the Varkala–Kadakkavur section around 10.10 pm when the loco pilot noticed the road vehicle infringing on the down line.

Railway officials said the pilot immediately applied emergency brakes and brought the high-speed train to a halt, preventing a potential mishap.

The RPF later took the autorickshaw’s driver, identified as Sudhi, into custody. He was suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time and had fled the scene.

After ensuring track safety, the Vande Bharat Express resumed its journey at 11.15 pm. Despite the delay, the train reached Thiruvananthapuram Central at 11.50 pm. 

No injuries or casualties were reported among passengers, railway staff or the public.